Kerr confident Reid and Crowe will be fit for clash with Albania

IRELAND manager Brian Kerr yesterday expressed confidence that Steven Reid and Glen Crowe will be fit to challenge for inclusion in the team to play Albania in Saturday’s European Championship qualifier at Lansdowne Road.

Both players have received regular attention from the Irish medical team since the squad gathered in Dublin on Saturday to begin preparations for the match against Albania and the follow-up tie against Georgia, again in Dublin, a week from Wednesday.

Crowe damaged a knee while playing for Bohemians on Friday and it was initially felt he would have to undergo a scan to clarify the exact nature of the injury.

However, a couple of days’ rest brought an improvement and the Irish medical team yesterday said they were satisfied it was a case of inflamed tendons rather than more serious damage to ligaments.

Said Kerr: “There is still some swelling around the knee and we will not be completely clear as to the extent of the injury until that goes down. We will monitor the situation against on Monday but there is no question right now of either Crowe or Steven Reid having to withdraw.”

The Irish team’s medical doctor, Martin Walsh, and physiotherapist, Ciaran Murray, have been assisting both players and their reports are positive.

Both players should be able to play a full part in training within a couple of days.

Reid is still fighting the injury that kept him out of the Irish team that played Norway in a challenge game in April.

But he was able to train with Millwall over the past couple of weeks of the season and his fitness will likely bring him into the frame for a place in the team.

The Irish players and management team attended the Bruce Springsteen concert in Dublin on Saturday.

Yesterday they travelled to Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan where they will be based at the Nuremore Hotel until Wednesday. Irish teams have used Nuremore in the past, most regularly during Jack Charlton’s reign.

They will have two training sessions today and on Wednesday will play a full scale match behind closed doors before returning to Dublin to complete their preparations for Saturday’s game.